With this caveat in mind, let’s take a look at a handful of players to watch heading into Thursday’s open practice.

The 10 voluntary OTAs run May 28-30, June 3-5 and June 10-13. The mandatory minicamp is slated for June 17-19.

S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Of all rookies, the Packers need an immediate impact out of Clinton-Dix (seen below) most. The first-round pick out of Alabama probably has a shot to start immediately next to Morgan Burnett. It’s been a while since Green Bay has had the luxury of interchangeable safeties. And it's been since Nick Collins, they've had a bonafide playmaker at the position.

Safeties coach Darren Perry said during the NFL draft he envisions Clinton-Dix playing near the line of scrimmage and deep.

“We have to be better,” Perry said. “We weren’t good enough, and that starts right here with me, that starts with our coaching staff, and we recognize that. We don’t shy away from that. It’s going to be a great challenge, and we will be better, no question in my mind. I’m looking forward to it.”

CB Casey Hayward. Green Bay welcomes back arguably its best playmaker. Hayward missed all but 87 snaps in 2013. Earlier this off-season, he expressed optimism he’d be ready for OTAs. That was the goal. Still, don’t be surprised if the Packers err on the side of caution. Hayward’s hamstring flared up multiple times last year. They can’t afford a repeat.

"I feel like I'm one of the top playmakers in the league — especially when I'm healthy, especially when I'm at the top of my game," Hayward said in March. "I feel like there aren't too many players who do what I do because I play inside, outside. I can press, I can play off. I think my game is very different than a lot of people."

The tight ends. Jermichael Finley met with the Packers’ medical staff Wednesday. A decision on the tight end, however, could still take some time. It's a first step. Remember, the team waited 11 ½ months to clear Sean Richardson, and his cervical fusion surgery was further down the neck. So, in the meantime, Andrew Quarless, Brandon Bostick, Ryan Taylor and Jake Stoneburner battle with newcomers Richard Rodgers, Colt Lyerla and Justin Perillo in what position coach Jerry Fontenot described as a wide-open competition.

The rookie Rodgers will get a shot. With everyone, it's about gaining trust with Aaron Rodgers.

“Anything's possible,” Fontenot said. “And if he gets hot and Aaron likes him as a target, then I think that any guy can contribute early. I don't see that this kid is any less capable than anybody else in possibly filling that role.

Quarless likely opens as the starter. It took months for him to regain his legs a year ago. Another full season removed from his torn ACL and MCL in 2011, he’ll be looking for a faster start. Rodgers did make a point to chat with him moments after Green Bay’s playoff loss to San Francisco. It’ll important for the two of them to find chemistry this spring.

RB Eddie Lacy. Then-RB’s coach Alex Van Pelt said a year ago, coaches needed to teach Lacy how to practice like a pro. And it’s no secret Lacy wasn’t in the best shape upon arriving for OTA’s as a rookie, at 238 pounds. What kind of shape will Lacy be in after winning rookie of the year? After rushing for 1,178 yards and 11 touchdowns? The Packers will be eager to find out. For what it’s worth, when chatting with Kevin Norwood before the draft, the former Alabama teammate chuckled that Lacy does enjoy southern cooking, but that Lacy was putting in a lot of hours of working out down south and appeared to be in good shape.

DE/OLB Julius Peppers. Will he rush opposite Clay Matthews? The same side as Matthews? On the line? Standing up? Julius Peppers, albeit at 34 years old, is Ted Thompson’s biggest off-season splash since 2006. He wasn’t available to reporters after signing. It’ll be interesting to hear how Peppers envisions fitting into Green Bay’s defense.

And it’ll be interesting to see — once the pads come on — how much juice Peppers has left.

“Julius is a great athlete, and he just runs with ease,” defensive line coach Mike Trgovac said. “And he’s matured a lot.”

CB/S Micah Hyde. Another player whose position remains a mystery is Hyde. Before the NFL draft, Mike McCarthy indicated Hyde would get a look at safety and that he envisioned Hyde as an “every-down player.” Does that change with Clinton-Dix? Expect some experimentation during OTAs. Hyde may be the best tackler in Green Bay’s secondary. Coaches will want to work him in somewhere.

With Clinton-Dix in and Hayward returning to his role in the slot, Hyde’s role is unclear.

“He’s got some ability, some versatility,” Perry said, “probably more than anybody we have back there. Micah can play a number of positions, and again we’re still in the early stages of kind of putting this thing together. By the time we get to our preseason games and ready for the regular-season opener, things will have played itself out, and it should be fun to watch.”

(Journal Sentinel photo by Mark Hoffman)

About Tyler Dunne

Tyler Dunne covers the Green Bay Packers. He has been on the beat since 2011, winning awards with the Pro Football Writers of America and Milwaukee Press Club.